How does global warming impact agronomy?

The impact of global warming on agronomy is multifaceted, making the choice that highlights its effects on crop yields, pest populations, and agricultural practices the most accurate. As temperatures rise and weather patterns become more erratic, crops may experience stress due to increased heat and changes in moisture availability, which can lead to fluctuations in crop yields.

Additionally, warmer conditions can enhance the lifecycle and reproduction rates of certain pests and pathogens, potentially increasing their populations and threatening crops. This change necessitates adjustments in agricultural practices, including the potential for altered planting dates, crop varieties, and pest management strategies to adapt to the evolving climate conditions.

In contrast, the other options do not capture the complexity of how global warming affects agronomy. While some might think that warming could universally increase crop yields, this is not often the case due to varying regional impacts and other stress factors. The notion that irrigation needs would be reduced overlooks the reality that altered precipitation patterns can lead to more droughts, necessitating more irrigation in some areas. Lastly, global warming tends to contribute to greater weather instability rather than stabilizing weather patterns, which can create unpredictable farming conditions.